Automobile lamp



Sept. 16 1924. 1,508,659

(3. J. KUNTZ ET AL AUTOMOBILE LAMP Filed Nov. 5. 1923 Pmmd Sept. 16, 1924.,

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. XUNTZ AND EDWARD A. LAOREN '1', OF JEANNEITE, PENNSYLVNIA.

AUTOMOBILE LA MP.

pplieation filed November 5, 1923. Serial No. 672,853.

T0 aZZ whom z't may concem:

Be it known that We, CHARLES J. KNTZ and EDWARD A. LAURENT, citizens of the United States, residing at Jeannette, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Lamps, of which the folloWing is a specification.

This invention relates to electric lamps and has particular reference to headlights for automobiles or other vehicles.

Among objects of the invention is to pro Vide an improved construction of headlights whereby the glare therefrom may be reliably controlled without minimizing the eflectivemess of the lights for driving purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved reflecting structure adapted to concentrate and direct the beam of light upon the roadway downwardly and f0rwardly in front of the vehicle, while at the same time preventing all glare from the lamp, especially from its lower portion that would tend to be objectionable to parties approaching the vehicle carrying the lamp.

Another object of the invention is ce provide means in the nature of an attachment for common or standard forms of lamp casing whereby the several advantages of the invention may be utilized by application to lampe now in use, and without material or extensive change.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings -wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a substantially central vertical longitudinal sectional view of a headlight constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view thereof with the transparent closure plate removed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the refiector, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper adjacent portions of the reflector and oasing.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, 10 in d1cates the casing of a conventional headhght, in the open front of Which the usual glass plate or lens 11 is removably secured -by means of a rim .12.

The principal element of the improvement comprises a reflector of peculiar form mounted in a articular manner within the casing and a apted to project light rays forwardly from the upper half of the casing quite similar to the action of an ordinary parabolic refiector but with the lower portion of the reflector so constructed that it serves to, project the light upwardly to the upper portion of the reflector for being projected downwardly and outwardly by the'latter for concentrating the light on a roadway direct] in front of the vehicle. This reflector, in icated at 13 may be described as consisting of a section of a arabola, the lower front portion of which 1s directed upwardly toward the longer axis of the geometric figure.

It will be seen that the floor or lower portion of the reflector approximates a plane at 15, the same being inclined sharply forwardly and upwardly from the portion 16 of the reflector. The whole of the interior surface .of the reflector 13 constitutes a reflectin surface.

The front e ge of the reflector 13 is formed and bent downwardly to provide a semi-circular shutter 17 which is disposed behind the lens 11 and closes all that portion of the front of the casing 10 below the points of projection of the light beams.

At 18 is a socket in which a lamp L of any suitable nature may be fitted, and the usual wires 19 lead thereto through an opening at 20 in the casing. V

The outer side of the upper portion of the reflector 13 is provided with a circular opening as at 21 that is in substantial alignment With an opening in the outer side of the casing 10 that is closed by means of a colored relatively small lens 22. The lens 22 of the right hand lamp of amotor vehicle will be of a difierent color from a similar lens of the other lamp of the vehicle, so that when the light shines therethrough from the interior 'of the reflector, one may determine or distinguish the right and left hand sides of an approaching vehicle, and thereby ascertain in which direction the vehicle. is travelling.

The refiector 13 is hinged at its upper for- Ward portion as indicated at 23 to the top of the casing 10, for vertical swinging movement, and associated with the lower rear portion of said casing 10 is an adjusting screw 24:, by means of Which the reflector may be tilted for directing the beam at the.

des1red forward and downward angle onto the road.

By means of the above mounting of the reflector, the latter may be set to direct the beam downwardly onto the road at the desired distance ahead of the vehicle, whereby proper illumination is had without directing the beamof light upwardly into the eyes of approaching parties and thereby complying with certain State and town ordinances requiring this to be done. As shown, the adjusting screw 24 is threaded through a nut 25 fixed in an opening in the lower portion of the casing 10 and having its inner upper end swivelled as generally indicated at 26 to the rfiector 13 whereby the adjusting screw may be freely rotated relative to the refiector for efiectively tilting the latter. In order to securely maintain the adjustment of the refiector 13, a j amb nut 27 is threaded upon the adjusting sciew 24 against the under surface of the bottom of the casing 10, and for permitting the tilting movement of the refiector 13, the wires 19 are provided with sufiicient slack Within the casing l0.

With the parts assembled as shown and described above, the light from the lamp paSsing upwardly aots upon the upper portion of the reflector 13 the same as in any other parabolic reflector, said light being projected forwardly in parallel lines. Thus, the efi'ect of the refiector with respect to parts thereof above the horizontal plane of the focal axis of the casing is substantially the same as in any other lamp having a parabolic refiector. The eflect of the lower portion of the reflector, is to concentrat e a considerable portion of the light Which may be directed upon the roadway in front of the vehicle by properly tiltably adjusting the reflector, at the same time providing a moderate amonnt of difiused light Without the accompanying glare.

From the above description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

What we claim as new is:

An automobile headlight comprising a substantially cylindrical casing open at its front end, a removable lens closing said front end, a substantially parabolic refiector disposed diagonally within the casing in a forwai*dly and upwardly inclined position, a forwardly and outwardly inclined fiat bottom closing the lower side of said refiector, the upper end of said bottom terminatmg in spaced relation from the corresponding end of the parabolically shaped refiector and being bent laterally downward from the latter to provide a substantially semi-circnlar shutter, the inner surface of said bottom being covered with light reflecting material, a lamp disposed within the refieetor at the lower end thereof and spaced above the juncture of the lower end of the bottom with the corresponding end of the main reflector, mans pivotally connecting the forwafd and upper end of said reflector to said casing, and adjusting means for the lower end of the refiector interposed between the latter and the casing.

In testiniony whereof we aifix our signatures.

CHARLES J. KUNTZ. EDWARD A. LAURENT. 

